Brake



' Nov. 24, 1942. w, GL cY 2,303,041

BRAKE Fil edMarGh'Y, 1941 ZShee'ts-Sheefll 43 Fill-1.1

INVENTUR; EDWARD w GLADY,

HIS Aware/ 5v.

NQvQ24', 1.942;

' E. w. GLACY BRAKE r Filedlarch 7; 1941 I 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENITOR; EDWARD w GLAC'Y, M4

HIS ATTD RNEY ,Parenred Nov. 24, 1942 2,333,041

UNITED STATES} PATENT orn g BRAKE Edward w. Glacy, Bristol, Conn., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a cornotation 01' Delaware Application March 7; 1941, Serial No. 382,185 14 Claims. (01.192-6) V D a This invention relates to braking mechanisms II which contains a series 01' braking disc II and particularly to acoaster brake for the drivand I2. Both the fluid pressure and the mechaning wheel of a vehicle, such as a bicycle, ical brake control mechanisms are operated by An object is to provide an improved coaster the usual rearward turning of a driving sprocket Another object is to provide a braking mechapressure control applies insufii ient ak ng pr snismwhich is normally actuated by fluid pressure when the driving sprocket I3 is rearwardly pressure mechanism. mechanical braking control and provides an Another object is to provide in a fluid presemergency brake. Hence in the event 01 failure sure operated brake mechanism an additional or the fluid pressure mechanism, the operator brake operating mechanism that is automatically 15 does not lose control of the vehicle but may still brought into use during a braking operation in I apply the brakes in the usual manner. I the event or insuflicient braking application .01 In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5 the wheelthe fluid pressure mechanism. hub II, which has the usual spoke flanges, is To these ends and also to improve generally. rotatably supported at its ends by rows of bearupon devices of this character, the-invention con- 8 b s I! and II. the bearing balls ll of one stats in the various matters hereinafter described row being. carried by a non-rotatable brake disc and claimed." In its broader aspectathe invensupport I! that is threaded on an axle II extion is not necessarily limited to the Income oon-. ending through the. wheel hub II. This brake structlons selected for-illustrative Pu poses. disc support I! has a non-cylindrical extension Intheaccompanving drawings: as I! non-rotatably socketed in an anchoring arm 1 is an axial sectional view hroughcne 12 that is suitably held from rotation, as by em odiment or the invention and taken along-tho ns to a y l f me n h A am linen-l o! l igure z an 3; member (not shown) is clamped between a pair Pilure 2 is a diametrical section taken alongv oi axle washers 28 by a nut 24, and a dust guard the 2-2 of Figure 1 "and lookin in the aoll'sccured to the brake disc support I1, 'over- --dircctiono!thearrows; h f '1 .llcsanm'doithewheelhubll, v g2] Inn-e8 is a diametrical section along -Tho balls or the other row run o tbcline 3-8 or Figural and looking-lathe di-- 1 a driving sleeve It thatis rotated by the driving rectinnogth arrow 1 sprocket II threaded thereon nndlooked inposium- 4 is a ration bya. nut 21. This ro ke II 18 1 j I f preferably dishedso that it also serves as dust lookin inthc directlon'oftheerrows;

. l'lgureli is a diametrlcal section taken lions l'l dprotccts the bearing balls II from dust line l-lot Figure l and looking in the di-" and dirt. A'row oi bearing balls", which rotatjrection oi'thc arrows; v v V Plture 8 is a view in axial section or another, 3| ldiustsblythreaded on theaxle El, and a T r frame member (not shown) is clamped over the Figure-7 is a dlametrical section taken along 'Ixle between the washers 82 by an axle nut It. 1-1 of Flgurefilndlookinglnthe Thedriving sleeve has'stcep pitch threads: direction of the arrows; 1 44; II that matlngly engage similar threads II on Mature 8 is a diametiicsl section taken along an axially shiitable connector I! provided with the line H of Fisure 6 and lookinslin the di- 'a'cpnical serrated clutch iace arranged for rectum oi the arrows; and f driving engagement with a conical clutch race 9 is a perspective View of the'brak'e' di II on the wheel hub II when the driving sprocket employed in the l 'ilruret embodiment. so, It is rotated forwardly. "A substantially c- Generally stated, I have provided scosster shaped lag spring 42, provide with thel isnnl brake for the driving wheel oi-a vehicle such out-turned ends 43 that are slidably received in ass bicycle; sndthis brake includes both a fluid -i two. of the longitudinally extending hub keyways pressure control ands mechanical control, these 4!, irictionally embraces the connector I! in an being-mounted in arotstsble wheel hub 6 annular groove so that the relative rotation of the driving sleeve 28 and the wheel hub It will tend to axially shift the connector on the driv- When the forwardly driving sprocket rotation'is stopped, the wheel hub l8 continues 31 is axially shifted away from hub-driving engagement to a coasting position, and a backward rotation of the driving sprocket l3 shifts'the connector 31 beyond the coasting position to a braking position as will be later described.-

The brake disc support l1 has a shoulder 45 from which axially projects a reduced tubular portion 46 on which are slidably mounted the series of inner and outer brake discs II and I2 in alternating relation. I preferably provide the tubular portion 46 with flat side faces 41 which are slidably engaged by similar flat portions in the bores of the inner brake discs H to prevent these inner brake discs from rotation, and the outer brake discs 12, which rotate with the wheel hub 18, have outwardly projecting lugs 48 that slide within the hub keyways 44.-

A brake applicator plate form of a flat washer, matingly fits over the sleeve portion 48 for a non-rotatable axially slidable movement towards and from the brake discs II and I2, and this brake applicator plate is urged into braking position either by a fluid pressure mechanism which includes a pair of cooperating longitudinally expansible metal bellows 52 and 53, commonly known as Sylphons, or by a mechanically shiftable sleeve 54 actually slidable on the tubular portion 46. The Sylphons" 52 and 53 are annular in form and surround the sleeve 54 within the wheel hub Ill. The inner ends of these Sylphons" are sealingly secured as by solder to a central annular head 55 that slidably receives the sleeve 54, and this head has a plurality of ports 55 through which fluid may freely flow from one Sylphon" to the other. The Sylphons in the wheel hub with a suitable non-compressible fluid through a passage communicating with one of the ports 56 and closed by a threaded plug 51. The head 55 is demountably and rigidly secured to the tubular portion 46 by a pair of opposed studs 58 threaded in the head 55 and having cylindrical inner ends passing through longitudinally disposed slots 59 in the sleeve 54 and bottoming in seats 66 in the tubular portion 46. ,Hence, it will be appreciated that my complete fluid pressure system is a sealed unit which may be demountably positioned in the hub as a unit-handling assembly.

The outer end of the .Sylphon 52 abuts against the brake applicator plate 58 and the outer end of the Sylphon" 53 abuts against a brake actuator plate 62 that matingly and slid- 58, in the general cator plate 50 and the shoulder 45. I preferably provide the Sylphon" 53 of smaller diameter than that of the "Sylphon 52 so that the slight pressure required to longitudinally Sylphon" 53 and to force the fluid into the Sylphon 52 will be amplified into a strong braking pressure applied by the Sylphon 52 througha shorter distance of movement of the "Sylphon" 52.

In the event of failure of the fluid pressure system, or, if the fluid pressure due to wear of parts or other causes should become insuflicient to the mechanical brake properly apply the brake, is automatically operated by a further rearward movement of the sprocket l3 beyond its normal braking position, and this further movement continues to axially shift the connector 31 and the brake actuator plate 62 until the brake actuator plate engages and shifts the sleeve 54 into brake operating engagement with the brake applicator plate 58. During a normal fluid pressure actuated brake operation, the sleeve 54 is spaced sufliciently from the brake actuator plate 62 so that it does not transmit any braking action. The slots 59 are of suflicient length so that the sleeve 54 is not restricted by the studs 58 during a mechanical application of the brake.

are completely filled before installationin the head and ably flts over the end of the tubular portion 46 adjacent to the connector 31. If desired, the ends of the Sylphons 52 and 53 may be respectively secured as by soldering to the plates 58 and 62. The brake actuator plate 62 has incline-i'aced teeth 63 adapted to intermesh with corresponding teeth on the connector 31. When the sprocket I3 is turned rearwardly, the connector 31 is shifted towards the left as viewed Figures 6 to 9 show another embodiment of this invention wherein a wheel hub 18, which has the usual spoke flanges, has an enlarged end 1| supported by a row of bearing balls 12 running in a raceway on a brake disc support 13 threaded on an axle 14, and the small end of the wheel hub 10 is carried by a row of bearing balls 15 that run on a driving sleeve 15 upon which is secured the usual driving sprocket 11. A noncylindrical extension 19 of the brake support is non-rotatably socketed in an anchoring arm 36 that is suitably held from rotation. Similar to the previously described embodiment, the driving sleeve 16 is supported by a row of bearing balls on a cone 83 threaded on the axle 14, and steep pitch threads on the driving sleeve 16 engage similar threads on a'connector 84 which has a conical clutch face 85 movable into and out of driving engagement with a similarly conical hub clutch face 86, v

The brake disc support 13 has a. shoulder 88 from which projects a sleeve portion 89 that receives the axle 14 and which has opposed flat sides 90. A series of alternating inner and outer brake discs 92 and 93 are slidably mounted on the sleeve portion 89', and these inner and outer discs are respectively non-rotatably keyed to the sleeve portion 89 and to keyways 94 in the hub enlargement 1| in the same general manner as described with relation to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5. A brake applicator plate 95 is slidably and non-rotatably fitted over the sleeve portion 89 for axial movement towards and from the brake discs, and this plate is urged into braking position either by a fluid pressure mechanism which includes a plurality of Sylphons" 96 that project towards the brake discs from recesses 98 in a carrier 91, or by a. mechanically actuated shifting of the carrier itself into engagement with the brake applicator plate.

The carrier 91, which slidably and non-rotatably flts over the flatted sleeve portion 89, has a plurality of recesses 99 from which rearwardly extend a plurality of Sylphons I08 that are smaller in diameter than the Sylphons 96. Each Sylphon has a threaded head at its inner end fastened to the carrier 91 and passages in the carrier and in these heads provide for free compress the nections.

.urel.

brake discs.

draulic braking operation.

actuating member for applying said brake, a sepcommunication of fluid between all of the Sylphons. A removable plug I04 communicates with one of these passages so that all of the "Sylphons and these passages may be completely filled with a suitable non-compressible fluid. With this construction; my fluid pressure system constitutes a sealed unit-handling assembly that is demountably positioned in the hub without affecting the fluid pressure connon-rotatably mounted on the end of the sleeve portion 89 between the flat end facev I06 of the carrier 91 and the connector 84, and a c-shaped' lag spring I01 that embraces the brake actuator has an ear I08 received in a keyway I09 of the connector to prevent the connector 84 from rotation. The brake actuator I05 and the connector v 04 are also provided'with interengageable and incline-faced teeth IIO generally corresponding with the teeth 03 of the embodiment of Fig- When the forwardly driving rotation of sprocket I1 is stopped, the connector 84 shifts out of hub driving engagement along the threaded driving sleeve I6 to the coasting position of Figure 6. When the sprocket is turned rearwardly, the connector 04 is shifted further towards the left as viewed in Figure 6 and into toothed engagement with the brake actuator I05 which is then forced into longitudinally compressive engagement with the Sylphons I thereby A brake actuator I is slidable but arately movable mechanically actuated brake applying member, and brake applying means in said hub and operatively associated with both of said members, said means engaging one of these brake applying members before it becomes operatively associated with said'other member.

3. In a device of the character indicated,- a

, position, and a brake applying member operative- 1y associated with said mechanism and with said the within said hub, a pair of intercommunicating the hub. The Sylphons" 96 are larger than the "Sylphons" I00 so that the braking pressure applied at the sprocket 'II will be amplified at the The expansion of the "Sylphons" 96 into braking position first shifts the carrier slrearwardly into engagement with the washer III to axially locate the carrier during the hy- Also, the non-rotatable pressureengagement of the carrier 91 against the washer III, which is supported by the rotatable hub, eifectively adds to the braking operation.

In the event that the normal fluid pressure operated brake application should become insuiflcient due to leakage in the fiuid'pressllre system or due to other causes, a further rearward turning of the sprocket will apply the mechanically actuated emergency brake while the fluid pressure brake is still being applied. To accomplishthis, the further rearward rotation of the sprocket results in a continued shift of the connector 84 and the brake actuator plate I05 until this brake actuator plate engages the carrier face I06 and bodily shifts the carrier 91 against the. brake applicator plate 95 to cause a mechanically applied emergency brake.-

I claim:

1. In a device of the character indicated, a rotatable wheel hub, a brake within said hub, hydraulically actuated brake applying means within the hub, independent mechanically actuated brake applying means within said hub, and a brake actuator plate in the hub for operating both said hydraulic and mechanical brake app1y-' ing means, said brake actuator plate operatin one of said brake applying means in subsequent relation to said other brake applying means.

2. In a device of the character indicated, a rotatable hub, a brake therefor, fluid pressure and additionally shifting the sleeve into brake operatingv position during a further movement.

--4. Ina bicycle wheel, -a rotatable wheel hub,

a sprocket-at one end of said hub and arranged to drive said hub, a brake within the hub. fluid pressure, actuated mechanism arranged to expand within the hub intoa brake applying position, a mechanically actuated mechanism independent of said fluid pressure mechanism and. arranged to apply said brake and means operatively connecting said sprocket to each of said mechanisms. I

5. In a bicycle, a rotatable wheel hub, a brake bellows fllled'with anon-compressible fluid, one of said bellows being operatively associated with said brake, and brake operating means arranged to compressively engage said other bellows and cause the flrst mentioned bellows to apply the I brake.

6. In a bicycle, a rotatable wheel hub, a brake at one end of said hub, a driving sprocket at the other end of said hub, and a fluid-filled hytively associated with said sprocket.

7.In a bicycle, a wheel hub, a non-rotatable brake support in said hub, a brake betweensaid support and said hub, a pairof interconnected fluid-filled bellows demountably secured at their adjacent inner ends as a sealed unit to said support, the outer end of one of said bellows being expansible into brake applying, relation, and a brake control member compressively engageable with the other end of said other bellows.

8. In a bicycle, a rotatable wheel hub, a nonrotatable brake support within one end of said hub, hub braking means between said support and the hub, a pair of fluid-filled intercommunicatingbellows between said support and the hub, a head common to each of said bellows and demountably carried by said support, a brake actuator slidably mounted on the support and engageable with one end of one of said bellows, and the other end of said other bellows being operatively associated with said brake.

9. In a bicycle, a rotatable wheel hub, a nonrotatable brake support in said hub, a brake operatively'associated with said hub, a head demountably fastened to the support, a pair of inter-communicating bellows filled with a noncompressible fluid and sealingly secured in unithandling relation with and projecting outwardly from said head in opposed relation, the outer end of one of said bellows being operatively associated with said brake, and a movable brake actuator member operatively engageable with the other end of said other bellows.

10. In a bicycle, a rotatable wheel hub, a nonrotatable brake support extending into said hub, a brake between said support and said hub, a carrier demountable on said support, a pair of intercommunicating fluid filled bellows in unithandling relation with said carrier and respectively projecting outwardly therefrom in opposed relation, one of said bellows being larger than said other bellows and having an end operatively engageable with said brake, and a shiftable brake actuator member operatively engageable with the outer end of said smaller bellows.

11. In a bicycle coaster brake, a rotatable hub, a brake therefor, a movable brake actuator member remote from said brake, a bellows assembly comprising a plurality of co-operating bellows filled with a hydraulic brake fluid, means demountably supporting the bellows assembly as a sealed unit which is in brake operative engagement at one end and which is engageable with the brake actuator member at its other end, and an independently movable brake energizing sleeve which is shifted by the brake actuator member into additional brake operating engagement after said bellows has been displaced a predetermined extent by the brake actuator member.

12. In a bicycle, a rotatable wheel hub, a brake therefor, a carrier shiftable into and out of brake engagement, a pair of interconnected fluid filled bellows mounted on the carrier in unit handling relation therewith and projecting outwardly from the carrier in opposed relation, the outer end of one of said bellows being operatively assoranged to additionally shift the carrier into brake operating engagement when the brake actuator reaches a predetermined position of its moveciated with said brake, a movable brake actuator operatively engageable with the outer end ofsaid other bellows, and said brakev actuator being arment,

13. In a bicycle, a rotatable wheel hub, a brake therefor, a shoulder in said hub, a non-rotatable carrier shiftable from said shoulder and into and out of brake engagement, a fluid filled bellows mounted on the carrier and expansible into brake operative relation, a second fluid filled bellows projecting from the carrier and communicating with said first mentioned bellows, a. brake actuator member shiftable into and out of compressible engagement with said second mentioned bellows, and said brake actuator member positively engaging and shifting the carrier itself into brake operative engagement after said second mentioned bellows had been compressed a predetermined extent. l

14. In a bicycle coaster brake, a rotatable wheel hub, a non-rotatable support extending into said hub, a plurality of brake discs alternately slidably keyed to said support and to said hub and shiftable into and out of braking engagement, a head demountably fastened to said support, a pair of annular fluid filled interconnected metal belows sealingly secured to and projecting from said head in opposed relation, the outer end of one of said bellows being operatively arranged to shift the brake discs into braking engagement, a brake actuator plate slidably mounted on the support and operatively engageable with the outer end of said other bellows, and a brake operating sleeve freely slidable on said support and within said bellows, said sleeve being operatively engaged by the brake actuator plate and shifted into brake operating engagement when the brake actuator plate reaches a predetermined position of its movement.

- EDWARD W. GLACY. 

